Nagaland to undertake Mop-up MR Vaccination drive from November 20

November 19, 2023 13 Views No Comment

KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 19 (MExN):The achieve and sustain MRelimination drive goals with zero transmission of endemic Measles and Rubella (MR) cases and 95% vaccination coverage in the State, an 11-day mop-up vaccination is scheduled for November 20-30.

Nagaland along with the rest of the country is committed to achieving MR elimination by December 2023, informed Dr Imkongtemsu Longchar, State Immunisation Officer (SIO) in a press release.

Accordingly, in during the months of April-May and August-September, Nagaland undertook coverage analysis to target areas with poor MR vaccination coverage and conducted elimination drives, he said.

MR vaccines are given to children as a 2-dose vaccine at 9 months (MR1) and at 16-24 months (MR2). As per the SIO, when a child takes the first dose but fails to take the subsequent dose, it is designated as ‘Left-Outs or Drop-Outs.’ However, the complete immunization dose has to be taken to get full benefits of the vaccination, he stressed.

For children who have missed out on the MR1 and MR2, the vaccine can be given till the child is 5 years of age and hence the MR elimination drive is targeted children in the age of 9 months to 5 years for MR1 dose and dropped out children for MR2 dose.

As per the State data, the MR1 dose is at 96% and MR2 at 92% but there are inter-district variations and the goal is to ensure that all the districts achieve more than 95% coverage, Dr Longchar noted.

Reaching out to those Left-outs and Drop-outs is a priority in ensuring no child is left behind for life saving vaccination and to bridge this gap, the State had earlier conducted three rounds of intensive vaccination rounds of Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) along with regular Routine Immunisation (RI) and special immunisation drives at certain districts where cases were detected.

‘Fear factor’
Citing the State monitoring data, the SIO further informed that most of the households that did not take the complete immunisation doses due to fear of side effects and lack of awareness.

Some children get a slight fever or maybe redness or swelling at the injection site, but that is normal, he clarified, maintaining that the reactions go away by themselves.

“If fever persists, caregivers should consult with the healthcare worker,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Longchar pointed out that advocacy and awareness are one of the key areas required in the community to create demand generation of services.

“We, as a community, need to work together in spreading awareness on importance of uptake of preventive services like vaccinations and mobilising caregivers to immunisation sites,” he said.

Immunising at the right age ensures that the child receives full protection and every unvaccinated or partially vaccinated child is at risk of life-threatening disease, he said.

Vaccines are available free of cost at all Government health facilities, he added.

Further underscoring that a strong support from the community is required to sustain the immunisation activities, the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare also requested allied departments, Faith Based Organisations, Civil Society Organisation, Village Councils, women leaders and members of IMA, IAP, IDA, Rotary, Lions Club and the community members in ensuring that all children under 5 years of age complete their MR dose during themop-up round being held in the government health units.